geek happens

Turn to page 34, if you dare...

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 13:38:00 +0000

Ah, the "Choose Your Own Adventure" novel. The cornerstone of my love of fantasy and adventure stories. I can't say it helped foster any sense of commitment though. I rarely made a choice without keeping my finger at the proverbial fork in the road, just in case I had to back-track. Sort of went against the point of the medium, but I couldn't have anyone falling off a cliff or being vaporized by an alien death ray. Not on my watch.

Further proof that everything that was old is new again, CYOA is trying out downloads of their classic series designed specifically for iPods. The first title , The Abominable Snowman, is currently available for free (until Jan. 25th). It looks like they want to get some feedback during beta testing, and what better way is there than using the word "free"? The downloads include full color illustrations and sound effects, in addition to the author's own voice telling the story.

So, anyone up for a little retro reading?

Choose your own iPod adventure [Via Crave]

We've found 'em, boys

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:07:00 +0000

"We've found 'em, boys. Let's bring them in!"

"Er, we had to eat Tom, but everyone else is fine."

Encouraging words to any would be rescuers' ears. Not so much for Tom's dog (who's up for adoption now, it seems).

In the wake of the recent disappearance and rescue of the Kim family (in which there was no eating of anyone), I've become very interested in all things "survival". Not in the "hunker down in the basement stockpiled with assault rifles and canned goods so the Commies can't get us" kind of way. I just mean that as my family has grown, "what if..." pops into my head a lot more often than it used to.

As a proper geek, I am obligated to scratch this itch by finding equipment and researching obsessively. For that's the answer to pretty much any problem - equipment and research. And equipment in particular, whether it be high-tech or low, is quick to fan the flames of my heart.

I recently ran across this watch on a travel blog, Gadling. The Emergency is made by Breitling, a company whose motto is "Instruments for Professionals". They produce precision timepieces for professional divers, pilots, and wannabe divers and pilots with deep pockets. Unless you're in the music biz, you can't just go throwing the word "instrument" around unless you mean business. And they do. How serious are they? Well, the Emergency is equipped with a transmitter capable of sending a distress signal reaching approximately 100 miles. The transmitter utilizes the aircraft emergency frequency and can operate for up to 48 hours. In a situation where there are no cell towers to help rescuers triangulate your position and things look like they're about to get a whole lot worse, the Emergency is a great insurance policy. That is serious.

Breitling Emergency [Via Gadling]

...and we're back

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:24:00 +0000

Hello again, fans. Thanks for your patience as we muddled through our little hiatus.

Truth is, we were on an expedition in the jungles of Guatemala looking for the Lost Idol of Cacapoo. We were inches away from snatching it . . . but the authorities were tipped off and they had an "escort" waiting for us. We would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for those meddling kids and that dog of theirs.

We tried to explain that the idol belonged in a museum, in the US, where unsupervised kids could put their greasy little hands all over it while mom and dad fought over visitation schedules after the divorce became final. It was the idol's destiny. They weren't having it. Perhaps we went too far when we mumbled something about it becoming ours when "the good ol' U-S of A finally annexes your whole damn country". Apparently, mentioning Manifest Destiny is a faux pas in Guatemala. Suffice it to say, we were shown the door soon thereafter. Touchy people, those Guatemalans.

I mean, hey, in general, if looting the graves of fallen empires and robbing countries of their national treasures for our personal gain, especially when said governments don't have the resources to feed their own citizens, much less protect priceless artifacts which represent the very identity of their people, is wrong, then I don't want to be right.

So, until we can get our legal status cleared up, I guess it's back to the geek grind, no?

[Hello to Dean, who helped bring us out of hiding!]

At any cost...

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:58:00 +0000

Is appendicitis any excuse for losing your primo spot in the Playstation 3 queue? Hell, no! You've got a spork and a common blood type. You know what to do. Now how does that prayer go again, "Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death..."

And don't worry . . . if you lose consciousness the crowd will make sure to push you forward the second the gates open. That'll be your signal to float away from the light in time to re-animate your corpse and grab the last PS3 from the shelf. You won't have lost your girlfriend (doesn't understand importance of high def gaming), big toe (frostbite), and now vestigial internal organ (just had to go today, didn't it?) for nothing. Now go home and take a shower. Oh, you'll be playing, right. Well, you may want to squeeze one in before Thanksgiving. Especially given your recent surgical procedure. I'm just saying . . .

RSS chaos

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:31:00 +0000

It appears that our RSS feed went all wonky yesterday. I know my reader picked up 24 "new" posts last night, which of course were not really new at all. Sorry for the clutter. Just think of it as an opportunity to re-read our award winning work.*

* [By "award winning work" we mean "several people have actually read said prose and not sustained long term psychological damage". Good enough for us. - ED]

Beware of the fringe geek

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:35:00 +0000

We geeks are everywhere. Just when you think you can recognize (and ostracize) us instantly by our awkward appearance and lack of social graces, a fringe geek will sneak up on you and become your closest friend. Insidious, aren't we?

You see, we come in many shapes and flavors. The most common species, computerus geekapedae gravis, is well represented, but other groups, such as weekend beekeepers and air/sea show attendees, secretly fly their very own geek flags. Take the model car builder, for example: Always looking for a new challenge. Doing in adulthood what he always longed for as a child. Trying to reconcile these feelings against a desire to be completely normal, boring, and average. Geek. Geek. Geek.

Luckily, for both the closeted and openly geek, there's a marked upswing in geek-as-cool. Our model-building brethren can now proudly display art catered to their calling. Jellio is selling life-sized snap-out model inspired art designed to hang on your wall for all to see. The example you see here is the Drive In model. The price is, not surprisingly, quite steep ($3000).

No one said coming out was going to be easy.

Jellio Drive In - Autoblog

Dangling a carrot

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 20:05:00 +0000

This painting by Casey Wheldon was mentioned on BoingBoing a few days ago. You have to love any pop art references to Star Wars. Is this considered cruelty to AT-ATs? Click on the image for a larger view.

Painting of kid riding an AT-AT - BoingBoing

Drink from the bottle...with a little class

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 15:32:00 +0000

Ah, Firebox. Always bringing us the best in random crap. And I don't mean "crap" in the pejorative sense. No, no, crap can be great. Behold, Beer Bottle Goblets. One part whimsy, one part beauty. For $24.95 you get a set of two glasses made from salvaged bottles of Grolsch, Sol, or Corona. I fancy the Grolsch glasses myself. Nice use of an already attractive design. I especially like that they don't have all of that branding on them (like the Sol and Corona bottles do). Just the subtle grain relief pressed into the glass that any beer snob will recognize instantly. Cheers.

Beer Bottle Goblets - Firebox

Thing's robotic twin

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:25:00 +0000

If you've been hanging around here much, then you know how we feel about robots, particularly disembodied parts made to resemble those of humans. I couldn't sleep with this thing in the house. All creepy crawly, just looking for a "fleshy" to snuff out.

Yeah, What on Earth is selling these things as novelty gifts for $16.95, but this is clearly a ploy to get us to bring them into our homes. These plastic hands respond to sound by playing the right hand part to several popular piano tunes. But is that all they can do? Will they lull us into a false sense of security with their Minute Waltz and human-like movements? What will happen once "The Signal" is sent out from Master Control? We'll let someone else figure that out. Vigilance, friends!

Pianist Hand Concert

Down the hatch

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:52:00 +0000

Everyone enjoys a good colonoscopy now and again, right? What? That's an exit only in your book? Hmmm, what to do, what to do. Given Imaging has a solution. Say hello to the Pillcam. It is, in case you haven't guessed, a camera small enough to be swallowed. The Pillcam takes thousands of snapshots of your gooey innards as it passes through your body. Delicious! It seems that some insurance companies are even covering this slightly less invasive diagnostic option. Technology is always taking the fun out of going to the doctor, no?

Not your father's colonoscopy - Crave

Sorry for the delay...

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 22:57:00 +0000

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. We've been relocating the GeekPlex, and the move has consumed most of our attention. I think we're back now, so watch this space for more inane chatter.

Build a better meal

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:12:00 +0000

Good design is good design. That was a really insightful sentence, wasn't it? You know what I mean. Designers are taking bits and pieces of classic designs and applying them in non-traditional ways. Take for example the LEGO Man. He's simple, he's got interchangeable parts, and he's held every job possible, from firefighter to wizard. If you met him in the street though, you'd probably think of him as more of a drifter with "multiple personality disorder" than a hero, given that he can't hold down a job but can remove his own legs at a moment's notice. Such is the hypocrisy of society. LEGO Shop at Home has drafted LEGO Man and a few other random LEGO blocks into culinary service. While it may seem strange to apply toy design to kitchenware, I think LEGO's got it right. Severed heads aside, the other products are whimsical, but still very attractive.

On a side note, I can't be the only one who's noticed that "geek chic" is really taking off. It seems that the "influence movers", people who mold public tastes and purchases, are really embracing things that just a few years ago would have been fatal to your reputation. Writers for movies and television are making more and more geeky references. Technology is in. Games are in. Weezer will be next year's biggest band (OK, that may be a stretch, but let's run with it, eh?). It's all coming together people.

Lego my...kitchen gear - Slashfood

A little geek reading

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 02:03:00 +0000

I just finished reading a short sci-fi novel by Cory Doctorow entitled Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. I'd heard mentions of the story (published in 2003) here and there, and I was already familiar with Cory's work for BoingBoing and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, so after some recent appearances on This Week in Tech, I decided to sit down and give Mr. Doctorow a chance.

The man has some interesting views on copyright and intellectual freedoms, and puts his money where his mouth is. Each of his four books (including Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom) is available for download . . . free. I know what you're thinking: he's only doing this because his own mother wouldn't buy a copy. To the contrary, he seems to be doing very well in that department. But Doctorow has also experimentally published his novels under a Creative Commons license which allows for reproduction, distribution, and even, gasp, "remixes" without his review or explicit approval. This seems like any normal author's worst nightmare, but he claims that going this route has his career "turning over like a goddamned locomotive engine". Geek Happens is rocking a CC license too, you know.

Enough about Cory, on to Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. The story takes place in the 22nd century, a time when energy is free, death has been defeated, and no one has to go hungry. But don't get the wrong idea. This is not some Utopian society where everyone sits around singing and holding hands. With the daily struggles of scraping together an existence gone, people are free to do as they wish; and human nature being what it is, that still involves violence, envy, and the occasional act of kindness. People band together in "ad-hoc" groups to accomplish goals, and traditional currency has been replaced by "Whuffie", a reputation-based currency reflecting the esteem and respect given to you by your peers. Most of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom takes place in, you guessed it, Disney's Magic Kingdom. The setting is important, as it both reflects how this new society functions (ad-hoc groups, always-on networking), yet reminds us that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Doctorow's style is very laid back. He avoids long, drawn-out dissertations on the events that molded this future society. Instead, he mentions concepts in passing, and expands upon them as the story unfolds. Post-scarcity economics, deadheading, and the Bitchun Society are all explained before it's over. His focus seems to be on telling a story that just so happens to take place in the future. Technology plays a role, but more to describe circumstances than to awe the reader with visionary ideas.

Overall, I really enjoyed Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. It's a great piece and, because it's on the short side, it doesn't require a huge time commitment to get through (I read it during my lunch breaks in just a few days). I plan to read through the rest of Cory Doctorow's novels in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted as I go through them. In the meantime, download your copy here and let me know what you think.

Resistance is Futile - Part 5

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 14:18:00 +0000

There is no escaping the Pod. We're haunted by visions of Cube dwelling elves and man-made formations visible from space. Even Mickey and his empire have been drafted into the fruit army. Perhaps if we just lay down for a few moments, we'll be able to clear our heads. Ah, yes, sweet rest. Wait a sec, what's that sound? Do you hear it? It seems to be coming . . . from . . . this . . . pillow . . . NOOOOO!!!

Geek equipment shop ThinkGeek presents the MP3 Pillow. Now, I don't think anyone is supposed to believe that this was inspired by any old generic MP3 player, but we can assume TG wanted to avoid one of Apple's now famous "cease and desist" nastygrams.

This standard size pillow not only looks like a giant plush iPod, but it also plays music from an internal speaker. The back of the pillow has a slot for connecting your music player (and not just iPods). Strangely, the buttons on the front actually work. You might want to turn the thing off before you fall asleep though. You don't want to run the risk of skipping to one of your angry breakup play lists and doing something crazy while you sleep. And hide your wallet while you're at it. Who knows what sort of subliminal propaganda issues forth from that speaker whilst you dream of electric sheep. $19.95.

MP3 Pillow - ThinkGeek

Just to remind, please rewind

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:32:00 +0000

Here's a grand piece of g-bage sure to confuse the hell out of all your mindless sheep friends. The DVD Rewinder has been around for a while, but for some reason it has popped back up into the blogosphere.

Many consumers are not aware of the long term damage caused to both DVDs and DVD players when a disc is not rewound after each use. The movie industry has colluded with consumer electronics manufacturers to disable the rewind feature on DVD players in an effort to force us to purchase replacement media and players. Don't fall for their tactics!

We'd also like to note that The Home Depot has added cantilevered and self-anchored suspension bridges to it's extended online catalog. Let us know how your installation goes.

The DVD Rewinder - DV Guru [thanks, Chuck]

Ground Control to Major Tom

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 03:31:00 +0000

Perhaps you, much like myself, have a perfectly good wooden fence separating you from your most excellent neighbor (made most excellent primarily through complete invisibility). These defenders of privacy are sturdy, attractive, and decidedly not transparent -- all brilliant qualities in boundary demarcation (we research these things; polls are taken).

So, what does your dog think about your choice of fencing? Have you taken Baxter's needs into consideration? Maybe he'd like to geek-out his little corner of the universe. The PetPeek should be tops on his backyard wish list. For a hair under $30 you can finally let your dog see what he's been barking at incessantly for the last 5 years. Chances are this will only focus his energy instead of satisfying his curiosity, but, hey, I'm no Dog Whisperer. You'll also get the added benefit of affording anyone on the outside of your fence a perfect view of your previously hidden sanctuary. Enjoy defending your collection of "Ewok Village" themed lawn gnomes and your dutifully trimmed orc warrior bonsai sculpture at the next Homeowners Association meeting.

The PetPeek [Via OhGizmo!]

'Tis the season for the Pumpkin Gutter

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 02:58:00 +0000

Is crazy! Only in America can man stick cake mixer in pumpkin to clean it out an make millions. Wow!!! Dats why I tell Papa I want go to America. To be rich big pimping when I show them my idea too! Wow!!!

Editor's Note: The preceding statements were in no way intended to diminish the entrepreneurial spirit on which this country was founded, nor the various immigrant groups whose hard work and determination are the bedrock of this, western civilization's greatest democracy. Equal Housing Lender.

Is crazy!

The Pumpkin Gutter - MAKE

must...sleep...zzzzzz...

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:49:00 +0000

You're slouching in your cubicle. The will to remain conscious is slowly slipping away. The gentle tippity-tap of keyboards washes over you and leads the way to dream land. Why are you so tired? You know why. I mean, did you really need to stay up to watch Clash of the Titans for what must be the hundredth time? Yes, that clockwork owl is spunky.

Look, if there's no way you're going to be able to stay awake, then you've got to do this right. The last thing you need is to unexpectedly get called to your boss' office, where he'll ask why you have the distinct impression of a telephone keypad in reverse on your forehead. You've got to get a Pino Cushion. The Pino slips over your hands and comforts you in a way that only faux leather can. You'll sleep soundly, like you used to before you discovered how much fun evil could be. If caught, you'll still have to explain the odd looking hand cozy, but we can't do everything for you, now can we?

As with most highly-specialized, seemingly ridiculous products, the Pino Cushion may only be available in Asia, but we'll see if we can't get some imported for you narcoleptic cube dwellers. Sweet dreams!

Pino Cushion - New Launches

A note about comments

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 03:03:00 +0000

It seems that some of our intrepid readers are having trouble commenting thanks to Internet Explorer not playing nicely with our CAPTCHA recently. For those who aren't familiar with the term, CAPTCHA stands for "Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart". How elegant.

CAPTCHAs are used online to prevent computer programs from scouring your site and automatically filling out web forms repeatedly. The scrambled letters and colors make it difficult (though not impossible) for a computer to recognize the required verification word. I turned the option on several months ago because I was beginning to get unwanted comments from solicitors' programs. Initially I was so excited to have any comments that I didn't mind the offers to refinance my house. Then real people started commenting and the automated garbage got annoying.

I've turned the CAPTCHA off temporarily. Once I have an idea how much spam I'm getting hit with, I'll decide if we still need it.

In the mean time, I hope you'll keep the comments coming. We really enjoy hearing from you. Also, we're open to topic suggestions or tips, so drop us a line.

Wurkin Stiffs

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 16:42:00 +0000

We like magnets. Unfortunately, until now magnets have been relegated to useless applications like keeping high speed trains moving safely, preventing dangerous subatomic reactions from blowing out walls in laboratory basements, and harmlessly slicing humans open with magnetic resonance imaging. Nothing too impressive.

But don't get down on our sticky friends just yet. Innovators, like those behind Würkin Stiffs, are trying to harness that wasted potential. They've created magnetic collar stays. Stays are those "thingies" (often plastic) that you slide into a slit on your spread collar shirts. They keep your collar from curling.

Thing is, sometimes the damned thing just won't stay in place. And unless your name is Vito or Manny, you really want to avoid that heinous, blown-out disco collar look. Don't fret, neodymium is here to save the day. Würkin Stiffs slide into your collar like regular stays, but are unique in that they also come with small yet powerful magnets which hold the collar points in the desired position from inside your shirt. You can have the button-down collar look without the buttons or you can strategically spread your collar to look as if you totally don't care how it looks.

The designers have a few other factors working in their favor:
1) They used an umlaut in the product name. Automatic points for that.
2) Check out the "Our Resume" page on their site. References to our favorite eugoogalizor are handsomely rewarded.

Würkin Stiffs are available from their site (link below, as always) for $19.95.

Würkin Stiffs [via Dethroner]

White & Nerdy

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 23:52:00 +0000

Weird Al Yankovic has something to say to his "urban" fans; he's not ridin' dirty, he's white and nerdy. His latest parody, White & Nerdy is done in his rather unique style. I implore you to hit the link below to watch the entire video.

Sort of an odd coincidence that White & Nerdy would come out just as Geek Happens is getting up to speed. The song wouldn't really be all that funny if it weren't so dead on. I'm sitting here laughing at this poor soul when it hits me . . . this is me. Is he watching? Get out of my head, man!

First in my class here at MIT.
Got skills, I'm a champion at D&D.
MC Escher, that's my favorite MC.
Keep your forty, I'll just have Earl Grey tea.

My rims never spin, to the contrary,
You'll find that they're quite stationary.
All of my action figures are cherry.
Stephen Hawking is in my library.

Hey, I'm a winner, alright. It's not like I have a boxed set of Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time and The Universe in a Nutshell sitting on my bookshelf between Cosmos by Carl Sagan and Astronomy, A Beginner's Guide to the Universe. I'm not some square. It's actually in between Cosmos and Beers of the World by David Kenning. See, beer, I'm with it.

Weird Al goes on to mention ergonomic keyboards, The Pythons, X-Men, and spending the evening with a roll of bubble wrap (pop, pop). I was feeling it right up to that last bit. Sounds messy. Keep an eye out for cameos from Donny Osmand and Seth Green. That Donny can move.

White & Nerdy video on YouTube [Thanks, frenchie!]

Rats right, Rorge

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:41:00 +0000

This story from the BBC is so odd that I'm just going to go ahead and quote the whole damned thing:

Juliette Piesley, 39, had changed the battery in her electronic key fob but was then unable to start her car. When AA patrolman Kevin Gorman arrived at the scene in Addlestone, Surrey, he found its immobiliser chip was missing.

Ms Piesley said her dog George had eaten something, and realising it was the chip, he put the dog in the front seat and started the car with the key.

Mr Gorman said: "I was glad to get the car started for the member."

They will now have to take George [the dog] with them in the car until things take their natural course.

"It is the first time that I have had to get a dog to help me to start a car."

Weren't we just talking about the dangers of RFID. This technology stuff is taking over. Wait, we live for technology. Go, tech, go! I feel so conflicted. No, I don't! Arg.

Dog swallows RFID, starts car - BoingBoing

Geek Tweak - Kill that gristle

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:35:00 +0000

Yes, we may be a wee bit on the wussy side here at Geek Happens. Few have pulled off being both uber-geek and manly-man simultaneously. While we have no illusions of testosterone fueled feats of strength or bravery, that doesn't mean we don't like to throw down some steaks and chops whenever we get the chance.

Our friends over at Lifehacker (and by friends, I mean that they have no idea we exist) present a reader's suggestion for cleaning off a season's worth of gristle and other spent animal matter from your grill's grating. The method involves a wire brush, your bio hazardous grill gratings, two Capuchin monkeys, and a self-cleaning oven. Give the gratings a good brushing and then pop them in an oven set to self-clean. Everything should come out good as new once the cleaning cycle is done -- at least according to reader Lochlan. Oh, the monkeys . . . right, yes, the monkeys. Those two always present a problem. You should probably go hide your valuables now. They are incorrigible little fellas.

Clean your grill in your oven - Lifehacker

Have we met before?

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 04:03:00 +0000

While we're on the topic of concept rings, we should mention this design by Hideaki Matsui. It's called the Information Ring. Yeah, he's got to work on that.

When two people wearing these rings shake hands, the rings automatically exchange information about the wearers. That information can later be viewed using a card interface, with the ring functioning as a control knob. Seems like a great idea for business conferences and/or speed dating.

This is a great concept, but it's a little scary at the same time. How much longer before we've got the Minority Report scenario, with billboards calling out to us, by name, as we walk by? I suppose this is a little different, because we can choose when to wear the ring . . . for now. The US government is already placing RFID tags on our passports. These tags contain personal information, much like the magnetic strip on the back of some driver's licenses and credit cards. The only difference is that RFID can be read from a distance without any physical contact. You'll never know you've been sniffed. Oh, and some religious types claim that RFID is the Mark of the Beast described in the Book of Revelations. RFID also keeps college kids from stealing textbooks from their local bookstore, freeing up more cash for beer. When will the madness end?

Information Ring - Yanko Design

It burns the flesh

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:23:00 +0000

Let's say that somehow, despite your complete social ineptitude, you tricked a real live, flesh and blood, non-inflatable woman into marrying you. The last thing you want to do is screw it up. And there are few ways to screw up faster than forgetting your anniversary. We're talking severe consequences here, people. She's taking half of your comic book collection when she walks out that door.

So, if a little pain now could save you a lot of pain later, would you go for it? Perhaps you should try the Remember Ring (concept) from Alaska Jewelry. This simple looking band is available in a few different finishes and comes to you programmed with a date of your choice. 24 hours before the requested date, the Remember Ring heats up to 120º F for 10 seconds. It then repeats that cycle every hour, all day long.

Now, this thing isn't going to sear your digits, but at 120º F you'll notice it - unless of course you're accustomed to a burning sensation around your ring finger. If that's the case, you may want to spend a few moments reflecting on any past relationships with husband-chasing Haitian voodoo priestesses that may have gone sour thanks to your fear of commitment. What? It happens.

Remember Ring gives you a burning reminder - Gizmodo